“We have developed a Turnaround Strategy to be implemented immediately. We have set aside no less than R145 million to purchase and repair critical equipment for all our hospitals in need,” the premier said during his State of the Province Address, on Thursday.
As part of the strategy, items that will be replaced at hospitals include boilers, autoclave machines, laundry machines, theatre equipment, kitchen equipment, electrical generators and mortuary and kitchen refrigerators.
Premier Mathabatha said they will also pay special attention to the improvement of finances, information management, leadership and Human Resource Management.
“It is high time that our hospitals are no longer called by derogatory names. It is our firm belief that this Turnaround Strategy will go a long way in improving the conditions of our health facilities and ensuring universal access to primary healthcare services.
“We are also purchasing no less than 50 ambulances in this current financial year in an effort to improve the response time of our Emergency Medical Services (EMS),” he said.
Shortage of doctors
Premier Mathabatha said the shortage of doctors in provincial hospitals remains a challenge. “At the beginning of the year we sent no less than 110 students to Cuba for medical training as doctors.
“In this current financial year we have committed further resources to send another group of 110 medical students to Cuba,” he said.
During his State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma announced that by January next year, the first intake of medical students will be enrolled at a new medical school at the University of Limpopo.
“As the provincial government we will be offering bursaries to this first intake of medical students,” he said.

Limpopo has developed a hospitals turnaround strategy to be implemented immediately says Premier Stanley Mathabatha “The Executive Council convened an urgent summit of hospital CEOs to develop mechanisms in terms of which the identified challenges can be resolved